Wallboard device for wallboarding ceilings



April 18, 1967 w. A. VIRCKS 3,314,553

WALLBOARD DEVICE FOR WALLBOARDING CEILINGS Filed Feb. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM A. V'IRCKS ATTORNEYS April 18, 1967 w. A. VIRCKS 3,314,553

WALLBOARD DEVICE FOR WALLBOARDING CEILINGS Filed Feb. 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR WILLIAM A. VIRCKS ym m ATTORNEYS United States Fatent O ice 3,314,553 WALLBOARD DEVICE FOR WALLBOARDING CEILING William A. Vircks, RED. 1, Stetsonville, Wis. 54480 Filed Feb. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 431,384 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) My invention relates to improvements in wallboard devices for placing wallboard on ceilings of rooms and the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an easily handled and operated device for quickly and accurately applying a wall board to ceilings, roof joists and overhead floor joists and the like from the floor so as to obviate the use of scaffolding, ladders and braces which are oftentimes both time consuming and expensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character and for the purpose above indicated which will enable wallboard to be lifted to the ceiling and held in a sag free position relative thereto until nailed and which will perform the above function without gouging of the bottom surface of the wallboard.

Still another object is to provide a device for applying wallboard to ceilings which is easy to move about from room to room, foldable and collapsible for convenience in transportation and storage or wheeling, which will not get out of order from prolonged use and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and use.

Other and subordinate objects also within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvement, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of my invention with the head shown in a horizontal position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view partially in section of a preferred embodiment with the parts in the same position as shown in FIG 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of the lower central portion of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 looking upwardly.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the head in a different position from the position shown in FIG 2. This view shows the device with a wallboard positioned thereon in a room having a floor and ceiling.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 7 showing the parts in a slightly different position with a 'wallboard raised to ceiling position.

FIG. 9 shows the device in a disassembled and folded position for easy and ready transportation.

Describing my invention in detail with reference to the drawings by numerals, in the preferred illustrated embodiment thereof, my improved wallboard lifting de vice comprises as its basic elements a base 1, a column assembly 2 and a head 3. The base comprises two base Patented Apr. 18, we?

plates It} and 11 best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 respectively which are secured to the column assembly by a weldment or other suitable means in spaced apart relationship. The lower plate 11 is permanently secured at the bottom of the column assembly in a plane normal to the axis of the column assembly. The plate 10 is spaced vertically there-from and is parallel thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated, each plate has six side edges of alternate short and long dimension as is clearly illustrated. The plates have been rotated on the base assembly before being permanently secured thereto so that the long and short sides are in arcuate alignment. The upper plate Ill has the upper end of a leg 12 permanently secured thereto as by a weldment or the like. The attachment is located radialy and arcuately of the plate ltl adjacent one of the short edges thereof. The leg 12 is composed of tubing or the like and has a bend 15 which provides that the lower section of the leg will be normal to a floor or support on which it. is to be used. The leg has a caster 16 secured to the lower end thereof. A strut I2 is permanently secured at one end thereof to leg 12 at a point adjacent the lower end of the leg 12 and is disposed radially inwardly and secured permaneatly to the plate ll at its other end. As can be seen in FIG. 5, this strut is secured to that portion of the plate 11 which comprises a short edge.

The base 1 comprises two additional legs 13 and 14 with associated struts l3 and I l which are substantially identical in configuration to the leg 12 and strut 12. These legs and struts are permanently attached thereto. The legs 13 and M are pivotally connected to the upper plate Id by means of a bolt and nut assembly 17 and 18 respectively or other suitable means. The bolts pass through appropriate holes (not shown) in the upper plate llll adjacent the other two short edges of the plate dill. The lower plate 11 has holes 19 and 20 formed therein adjacent the other two short edges thereof as can be best seen in FIG. 5. These holes are adapted to receive the downwardly turned ends of struts l3 and 141. Cotter pins 21 and 22 are passed through transverse bores (not shown) at the ends of these struts and secure the struts to the plate for pivotal movement.

A cover 23 for the lower base plate 111 is provided which has an opening 27 therethrough adapted to mount the same on the column assembly between the two base plates. This cover functions in one position thereof to lock the struts against arcuate movement. Locking of the struts, in turn, locks the legs in an extended position in which they are spaced relative to each other through an arc of a proximately degrees.

The cover 23 has a body portion 24 identical in configuration and slightly larger than the base plate 11. Three flanges 25 extend downwardly from the major edges of the body portion 2d. Openings 2d are provided between the ends of the flanges 25 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 5.

The cover plate is shown in its raised position in FIG. 5. In its lowered position as illustrated in FIG. 1 its function of locking the struts is clearly illustrated.

While the base has been described as comprising three legs, with struts and base plates and a cover suitable in shape for use with this number of legs, it is clear that more than three legs may be used as desired and that the use of more than three legs is within the purview of this invention.

The column assembly 2 is of telescoping form with a cylindrical lower outer bottom section of pipe or the like which has an opening 32 at its upper end. An upper inner telescoping member 31 is received within the opening 32 of the member 30. The member 31 as can be best seen in FIG. 4, has a cross sectional shape such that it provides an annular space between the two members. In the embodiment illustrated, this member is of rectangular configuration. A flexible member 33 in the form of a cable or the like is disposed as illustrated in FIG. 4 between these two members and is secured to the lower end of the upper inner member 31. The purpose of this flexible member will be made apparent hereinafter.

The lower outer telescoping member 30 has a slot 34 at its upper end which communicates with the upper opening 32. Flanking this slot 34 are two plates 35 and 36 which are permanently secured to the upper end of the member 30. A shaft 37 is supported by these two plates and, in turn, mounts a roller 38 thereon. The roller has a peripheral groove 38 adapted to receive the flexible member 33. The shaft and roller are so mounted on the plates 35 and 36 that the flexible member extending downwardly therefrom will be aligned with the annular space between the members 30 and 31 as best seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

A winch assembly 40 is mounted on the lower outer column member 30. The Winch functions to extend the telescoping members and raise the head which is secured to the upper end of inner member 31. The winch comprises two plates 41 and 42 which are secured to the lower outer telescoping member 30 as can be best seen in FIG. 4.

A spool 43 is mounted between the plates 41 and 42 by a shaft 44 having a handle 45 connected thereto by an arm 46. One of the circular flanges 47 of the spool 43 is oversized forming a Wheel and has slots 48 provided in the periphery thereof. The plates have slots 49 as seen in FIG. 2 adjacent the periphery of the oversized circular wheel flange 47. The slots receive a bolt and nut assembly 50 which is adapted to engage any of the slots 43 in the periphery of the circular wheel flange 47 to lock the spool against rotation. One end of the flexible member 33 is, of course, permanently secured to the hub of the spool 43 (not shown).

The head comprises two plates 51 and 52 secured along one edge by a hinge assembly, preferably of the piano type, which comprises alternate knuckles 54 secured to the plate 51 and knuckles 55 secured to the plate 52. A post 53 is rigidly secured to the underside of the lower plate 52 and is adapted to extend into a recess in the upper end of the upper inner telescoping member 31 which recess is identified in FIG. 6 by the reference numeral 56.

Permanently secured to the upper head plate is a plurality of radially extending strut members 57. Secured to the outer end of these radially extending strut members 57 is a frame assembly 58 of a shape similar to that of wallboard and having dimensions slightly less than the conventional wallboard dimensions. The frame assembly 58 is formed of a peripheral member 59 and transverse members 59'. The peripheral member 59 may be a single deformed tubular member or it may be composed of several lengths of pipe secured together at their ends. The frame assembly 58 is so disposed relative to the plates 51, 52 that one of its major sides is aligned with the piano hinge assembly 54, 55. To this side of assembly 59 are secured one or more flange members 60 and a dependent brace arm assembly 61. The flanges extend outwardly of the side of the frame assembly to which they are secured and turn upwardly as best illustrated in FIG. 1. Their upward extent is of such a dimension that they extend above the plane of the upper side of the frame assembly a distance slightly less than the average thickness of Wall boards. Their horizontal extent is approximately two inches.

The arm assembly 61 comprises two elongate elements 62 and 62' rigidly secured to the frame assembly 58 at their upper ends and converge at their lower ends and are rigidly secured to a plate 63. The plate 63 has a notch therein of a size and shape adapted to bear against the cylindrical member 30. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the arm assembly 61 extends inwardly approximately 20 degrees from the vertical.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With the head pivoted on its hinge to the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 7, a wall board 70 may be positioned thereon to be supported by the flanges 60. When so positioned the lower longitudinal edge and upper longitudinal edge of the wallboard, as well as the side edges thereof, are spaced beyond the limits of the frame member 58. On the operation of the winch mechanism, the telescoping members elongate. The head is lifted upwardly while still in a tilted position until the upper edge of the wallboard contacts the joists or structure 71 above. Because the frame is tilted from the vertical the wallboard on contact with the structure 71 above will tilt to the right as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 7. Upon further rotation of the winch 40 and raising of the inner telescoping member 31, the frame will be further til-ted on its hinge until the frame assumes the position as seen in FIG. 8.

Since post 53 is loosely received within the opening 56 of the inner upper telescoping member 31 for rotation therein, the upper longitudinal edge of the wallboard 70 can adjust itself to align with the edge of previously installed wallboard 73 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

By reason of the fact that the post 53 can rotate freely in the opening 56 and because the slot in the side of plate member 63 is circular to conform to the outside of the lower cylindrical telescoping member 30, it is clear that the frame may be freely rotated to effectively enable the winch and frame to be advantageously positioned with respect to a corner, obstacle or side wall of the room for easy operation of the device.

If by inadvertence the base has been positioned too close to the previously installed wallboard 73, the head, on the contacting of wallboard 70 with the edge of wallboard 73, will shift the apparatus slightly to the left as seen in FIG. 7 to more readily and quickly align the wallboard for fastening to the structure 71 above.

The upper surface of wallboard 70 and/or the lower surface of structure 71 can be preconditioned as with a suitable adhesive to secure the wallboard thereto. By reason of the fact that the frame 58 is slightly smaller in size than the wallboard to be used therewith and further by reason of the fact that the flanges 60 are offset, 21 marginal portion of the wallboard 70 is presented for the reception of nails, staples or the like which may be used to secure the wallboard to the upper structure 71.

By reason of the fact that the arms 57 extend down- Wardly and inwardly from the frame 58, and are constructed of resilient material such as steel, a certain amount of give is permitted between the frame elements 59 and 59' and the double plates 51, 52. This give enables the frame 59 and the cross members 59 to urge the wall board 70 firmly against the upper structure 71. Sagging of the wallboard is avoided during nailing or securing of the wall board to the upper structure 71 through this operation.

When the tubular member has been extended to a condition as just described, a single operator can lower the bolt 50 into engagement with the slots 48 in the spool flange 47 to hold the telescoping members in this extended position. The single operator can then without danger of the wallboard falling secure the same to the ceiling through suitable fastening means.

It can be seen that the device can be shifted on its casters 16 from one position in a room to another. Moreover, the apparatus can be moved from room to room in a single building. When it becmes desirable to move the apparatus to another location, the device can be disassembled as follows:

With the device in a position such as that illustrated in FIG. 7 but without a wallboard 70 positioned thereon, the head may belifted to remove the post 53 from the opening 56. After removal of the head, the cover 23 may be lifted and the legs 13 and 14 rotated to a position adjacent leg 12 substantially as shown in FIG. 9. In this position the apparatus is readily suited for transportation.

While the novel apparatus has been set forth above as being used with wallboard, it will, of course, be clear that sheet material and slabs of various compositons may be used with the above device.

While there have been pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes in the form and details of the device may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that the patent grant be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for handling wallboard or the like comprising a base, a telescoping column assembly, and a head, said base comprising legs adapted to hold said column assembly in a vertical position, a plurality of said legs being so mounted on said telescoping column assembly as to enable the same to be pivoted thereon, said base further comprising a locking means for holding said legs in an arcuately spaced relationship, said base further comprising two spaced apart plates, said plates being mounted on said column assembly, a first leg secured to the upper and lower plates and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, a strut member secured to said bottom plate and connected to the lower end of said first leg, two other legs being pivotally connected to the upper plate, two other strut member being pivotally connected to said lower plate, said other struts and other legs being rigidly secured together adjacent their other ends, the said locking means comprising a cover including a base portion and downwardly extending flange portions, openings being provided between the adjacent edge of the downwardly extending flanged portions, said cover being slidably mounted on said telescoping column assembly between said plates and lowerable to a position in which the struts of said base are received between the edges of the flanges of the locking means.

2. A device comprising a base for use with a telescoping column assembly and a head, comprising upper and lower plates, a plurality of leg means secured to said upper and lower plates so as to enable the leg means to be pivoted relative thereto, said base further comprising lock means for holding said leg means in an arcuately extended pivoted position, a leg permanently secured to the upper plate and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, a strut member rigidly secured to said bottom plate and permanently connected to the lower end of said leg at its other end, said leg means being pivotally received in openings provided in the upper plate, said leg means being further pivotally received within openings provided in said lower plate, said lock means comprising a cover having downwardly extending flange portions, openings being provided between the adjacent edges of downwardly extending flanged portions, said cover being slidably positioned between said upper and lower plates.

3. A device for handling wallboard or the like comprising a base, a telescoping column assembly, and a head, said base comprising legs adapted to hold said column in a vertical position, a plurality of said legs being mounted on a first plate secured to said telescoping column assembly, said legs being pivotable on said plate, said base further comprising a lock means for holding said legs in an arcuately extended pivoted position, said base comprising a second plate spaced below said first plate secured to said assembly, strut members rigidly secured at first ends to the legs and at second ends pivotally to the lower plate, said lock means comprising a cover comprised of a base portion and downwardly extending flange portions, openings being provided between the adjacent edges of the downwardly extending flanged portions, said cover being slidably mounted on said telescoping column assembly between said above mentioned plates and lowerable to a position in which the strut members of said base are received within the openings, said telescoping column assembly compn'sing a lower member adapted to receive an inner upper member, the inner upper member having a recess in its upper end and having an outer configuration that provides a space between the inner surface of the outer member when it is positioned therein, said assembly further including a winch mounted on the lower outer member, a pulley mounted at the top of the lower outer member, a flexible member secured at one end to said winch, said flexible member extending over said pulley and being secured to the lower end of said inner telesccoping member, said winch comprising a means for holding the same against rotation, said head comprising two plates secured together along one edge by a hinge, the lower plate having a post extending therefrom, said post being of a size adapted to be received within a recess in the upper member of said telescoping column assembly, said head further comprising a frame member having a flange member extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom, said flange member being on the side of the frame member corresponding to the side of the plate members on which said hinge is mounted, said frame having an arm extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, said arm having a plate thereon with a recess substantially conforming to the outer shape of said lower telescoping member, said frame member and said upper of said two plates being secured together by members which extend upwardly and outwardly from said upper plate.

4. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said head comprises a frame having side and end portions and having an upper side and a lower side, elongate strut members secured to said side and end members and converging toward the center of the frame, upper and lower plates, hinge means coupling said plates together along adjacent edges thereof substantially paralleling one side portion of said frame facilitating swinging said frame between a horizontal position and a tilted position, said convergent ends of said struts "being secured to said upper plate, means detachably connecting said lower plate with said column assembly, and upstanding flange means on said. one side portion of said frame.

5. The invention according to claim 4, with a brace arm secured to said one side portion of the frame and extending inwardly below the frame and having an inner end portion carrying a means facilitating coupling the same in bracing engagement with the column assembly to maintain the frame in a tilted position.

6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein the last said means comprises a plate having an edge recess generally conforming in contour to the cross sectional configuration of the column.

7. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said converging strut members extended downwardly from the said lower side of the said frame and are formed of resilient material.

8. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said telescoping column assembly comprises a lower outer member and an inner upper member, the innerupper member having a recess in its upper end and having an outer configuration which provides a space between the inner member and the outer member when the inner member is positioned therein, said assembly further including a winch structure mounted on the lower outer member, a pulley mounted at the top of the lower outer member, a flexible member secured at one end to said winch, said flexible member extending over said pulley and being secured at its other end to the lower end of said inner member, said winch including latch means for holding the winch against rotation, and said head is mounted upon said inner telescoping member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS McClung 1086 X Wangerin 248384 Mackey 108-6 Schweitzer.

u Wright 248-167 X Foster 2141 Davis 2141 Jones 214-1 Straster 248-167 Morris 214-1 Foth 214-1 Spencer 2141 10 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR HANDLING WALLBOARD OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A BASE, A TELESCOPING COLUMN ASSEMBLY, AND A HEAD, SAID BASE COMPRISING LEGS ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID COLUMN ASSEMBLY IN A VERTICAL POSITION, A PLURALITY OF SAID LEGS BEING SO MOUNTED ON SAID TELESCOPING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AS TO ENABLE THE SAME TO BE PIVOTED THEREON, SAID BASE FURTHER COMPRISING A LOCKING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID LEGS IN AN ARCUATELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP, SAID BASE FURTHER COMPRISING TWO SPACED APART PLATES, SAID PLATES BEING MOUNTED ON SAID COLUMN ASSEMBLY, A FIRST LEG SECURED TO THE UPPER AND LOWER PLATES AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, A STRUT MEMBER SECURED TO SAID BOTTOM PLATE AND CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID FIRST LEG, TWO OTHER LEGS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PLATE, TWO OTHER STRUT MEMBERS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LOWER PLATE, SAID OTHER STRUTS AND OTHER LEGS BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TOGETHER ADJACENT THEIR OTHER ENDS, THE SAID LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A COVER INCLUDING A BASE PORTION AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS, OPENINGS BEING PROVIDED BETWEEN THE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGED PORTIONS, SAID COVER BEING SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TELESCOPING COLUMN ASSEMBLY BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND LOWERABLE TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE STRUTS OF SAID BASE ARE RECEIVED BETWEEN THE EDGES OF THE FLANGES OF THE LOCKING MEANS. 